Promotions help business growth

Local enterprises are increasingly launching sales promotions to limit
inventory and stabilise production, according to independent market
watchdogs.

Analysts said that tough economic times had forced producers to seek new ways to survive.

In
addition to supplying the market with products that have diversified
designs, reasonable prices and high quality, many producers have focused
efforts to offer sales that meet consumer demand.

Trade centres,
supermarkets and retail stores typify this trend. They have regularly
launched sales promotions that last two to three months, offering
discounts of up to 50 percent or more, depending on the product.

The
director of a retail company in Ho Chi Minh City, who declined to be
named, said that enterprises often had high turnover during these
promotions.

Nguyen Khanh, director of the Thien Hoa Group,
agreed, saying his company had more sales and had achieved high turnover
with such promotions.

He said that many promotions are launched during holiday periods.

Sales
are offered for high-demand products such as household appliances,
accessories and cosmetics, as well as for high-grade products with top
brand names like Karen Millen, Coast, DKNY, Swaroski, ICB, Nine West and
Steve Madden.

Nguyen
Thi Hong, Vice Chairwoman of the HCM City People's Committee, said the
city government had also called on enterprises to participate in
consumer support programmes through sales promotions to stimulate
demand.

Analysts said consumers had welcomed the promotions, particularly during difficult economic times.

City
resident Phan Thu Ha of Tan Binh district said her family "often hunts
for sales programmes where we can buy good quality products at low
prices" in order to reduce spending.

Vu Thi Kim Dung, marketing
director of Parkson Mall in HCM City, said: "Enterprises should make
thorough preparations before launching sales promotions if they want to
win over consumers. In particular, they should pay more attention to
quality as well as prices.-VNA